Not an epic journey like so many of the others on here, but I think worth a mention hoping others will venture abroad.
I am also writing it because I wish I had a written record of some of the trips that I have done in the past which so much has been forgotten about.
I quite often head off to Sweden to meet up with old friends, September is a good time for me to go.
There is an end of year bike meet that lots of them go to see out the biking year.
I either get the plane over and pick up a bike from a mate or as I prefer have a quick dash up on a bike.
This time it would be different, my daughter, having finished uni this year fancied coming with me.
She has been around bikes all her life but never done such a long journey, so I decide to make a bit more of a trip out of it.
10 day trip to include a weekend party instead of the normal dash.
I know the route well these days, but we were going to visit a few places on the way up so I stick a Sat Nav in the top of the tank bag, not my best move.
We leave a sunny London early Monday morning for Dover to pick up the Dover – Calais 8 o’clock ferry, we are in luck get there and hope to get on the ferry before.
Never been a problem before, however for the first time ever (honest) I have messed up the 24 hour clock and I am 12 hours too early, cheaper to buy a new ticket than to mess around changing the ticket.
My daughter was laughing so much and with me joining in, the staff from the other side of the booth even came round to see what was happening, the guy then gave us a deal which was even cheaper. Worth seeing the lighter side of things than spitting the dummy, people treat you better when you are laughing.
The weather forecast for the next week is looking better than the rest of the summer, no rain, great.
Get on the early ferry by the skin of our teeth, there doesn’t seem to be any other bikes that I can see, which even for September seemed strange.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401694435/" title="Breakfast2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8401694435_d1b7c46834.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Breakfast2"></a>
At breakfast there seems to be quite a few bikers knocking around, as we were last on we are first off and then we spot all the bikes jammed in at the front unable to get moving.
We are quickly off the ferry and on our way to Lille, my daughter did some work experience in a Chocolate shop there, so we plan to stop off and say Hi.
Busy City centre Lille but we get in to the Main square (without SAT NAV), head over to the Choc shop only to find it closed, so find a bar and grab an early Beer and Coffee in the SUN and watch the world go by.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797918/" title="Atomium1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8402797918_92bfc35675.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Atomium1"></a>
Next stop is the Atomium in Bruxelles, a mate of mine has a copy of it on his workshop roof that he made, and always says it’s worth a visit, sure is, its massive compared to his, my daughter thought I was joking when I said we were going there but she could not believe how great it was. We again grab a coffee and watch the world go by.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401707819/" title="Atomium2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8401707819_986c8565e8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Atomium2"></a>
Belgium has busy roads, guess it’s because it is such a small place and everyone is travelling though it to somewhere else, but no real problem on the bike.
We leave on our the way to our first nights stop in Cologne Germany, I used Trivago for the first time to find some cheap Hotels / Hostels on the way, a twin room Romanian styled Hotel 6Km outside Cologne for under £20, how could I go wrong.
On the way I use the Sat Nav for the first time as I have not been to Cologne before, that’s my second mistake of the trip, we end up at the Cathedral in the centre of Cologne and not 6Km away, daughter still laughing so not a terrible mistake, I need to remember if you program the Sat Nav with all the points on the way, make you sure you choose the one you want to go to next, not the one for the next day.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797242/" title="Cologne Hotel 2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8402797242_1e0e432fa0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne Hotel 2"></a>
We get to the Hotel, which is bit weird with stuffed animals all over, lots of stuff from Transilvania, need to make sure the door is locked tonight. But it’s only a short walk from the Rhine, people are friendly and it’s comfortable.
Its quite late so have a meal in the Hotel, not sure what we were offered so let them decide, a dish from the homeland, it was like a plate of sandwich spread with bread on the side, Romanian beer helped it feel like a meal.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797038/" title="Cologne Hotel 1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8402797038_735d0a6d4f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne Hotel 1"></a>
We go for a walk after, its like a summer evening, and even though it was a tourist area almost everything was closed or closing, even down by the Rhine the bars looked good but no one was around.
Back to the Hotel and a great night’s sleep with not a bat in sight, in the morning we decide to go and find a normal type breakfast at the bars by the Rhine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797176/" title="Rhine Breakfast by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8402797176_5611b87a41.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Rhine Breakfast"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797620/" title="Rhine by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8402797620_627b867a7d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Rhine"></a>
Great weather, misty on the Rhine and the barges are starting to move though the mist, and then a friendly bar for breakfast, excellent choice.
From there to the Cathedral for the sightseeing, quite a building and a lot going on, more coffee and people watching in the Sun.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401706295/" title="Cologne 1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8401706295_8d685aeef4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne 1"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401706133/" title="Cologne 2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8401706133_283920c287.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne 2"></a>
We are then off to Bremen not the best choice of routes, the motorways are full of lorries and road works but its quite a way so it’s the quickest, we stop off quite a lot on the way at the services, they are so much better than what we have here. Apple strudel and coffee, yum.
We meet quite a few German bikers, some who chat and some that don’t. It’s amazing how some people don’t understand why it’s a good idea to do trips like this on a bike, even other bikers. We chat to a couple two up on an immaculate GPZ 1100 and they were gob smacked that we were going to Bremen, it was so far.
Not an eventful leg of the journey, but we find the Hostel right next to a massive factory for something or other in Bremen without problems, the guy there laughs when I ask if its OK to leave the bike just outside and he says it’s the safest place anywhere!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401705831/" title="Bremen by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8401705831_8b93626bcf.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Bremen"></a>
The room is cheap and equipped with bunk beds but comfortable. The others staying there must all be working in the local factories by the look of them.
We head out for something to eat but can’t find anything around, so end up by the River Weser with food from the local shop, this is where you meet the locals, who either give you a weird look or wish you Bon Appétit while out running.
On the way back to the Hostel we hear a loud open air disco and lots of people on roller skates heading towards it. As we appoarch they all head off behind the van with the ghetto blaster on for a late night roller disco around Bremen, quite a sight.
We leave for Copenhagen in the morning, again mindless motorways and good coffee, you always think it is the Brits who shout at foreigners when they don’t understand, but the Germans are quite good at it as well, yes I would have custard with my apple strudel thanks.
At one point I was expecting to get a real soaking, the clouds in the sky ahead where black as night, but as we got closer you could see it was all coming out of a chimney and stretched for miles, and then another and another. They say we should clean up our act but they don’t seem to care. Impossible to believe really, but we stayed dry.
At a fill up at the services I notice a hole in the rear tyre, but its only just leaking with no real loss of pressure, but I check it at the next few services thinking I will get it sorted in Copenhagen rather than plug it in the middle of no where.
We are heading for the Puttgarden – Rodby ferry which you pickup from an island with just one main bridge as access, we get to within about 8 miles of the bridge and there is one hell of a tailback.
This is no problem for me as I am from London, but there is a Harley from Norway in front of me and if you know Scandinavians you will know they used to be taught not to pass unless they are about 2 meters away from the other vehicle.
Anyway I follow him for a couple of miles until he ducks between two cars to go for the inside, then I am off in Londoner style inches form all the traffic, only to get to the bridge to see 3 cops all pointing at me, shouting and jumping up and down, opps, but they wave me past the accident without stopping me, with the Harley right behind!
At the ferry port I start talking the Harley owner, he is from Tromso and left in April in the snow and was just going back, I wondered if he would get back before the snow.
He had just some waterproofs and a small pack, travelling light, he had enjoyed the British summer up in Scotland, wetter than Norway he said, been around Europe a bit staying with “friends”.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401981415/" title="Harley & Canoe by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8401981415_d68a2ccf84.jpg" width="500" height="299" alt="Harley & Canoe"></a>
He was surprised that I new Tromso and a had stayed in the cabins by the bridge some years ago on the way back from North Cape, its great to talk to others who are travelling, but then there was the guy on the English Goldwing who only just forced himself to return a hello.
But we all fell about laughing at the guy who had to come with the motorbikes pulling his canoe with wheels onto the ferry as they would not let him row across, he was laughing as well poor bloke.
I am also writing it because I wish I had a written record of some of the trips that I have done in the past which so much has been forgotten about.
I quite often head off to Sweden to meet up with old friends, September is a good time for me to go.
There is an end of year bike meet that lots of them go to see out the biking year.
I either get the plane over and pick up a bike from a mate or as I prefer have a quick dash up on a bike.
This time it would be different, my daughter, having finished uni this year fancied coming with me.
She has been around bikes all her life but never done such a long journey, so I decide to make a bit more of a trip out of it.
10 day trip to include a weekend party instead of the normal dash.
I know the route well these days, but we were going to visit a few places on the way up so I stick a Sat Nav in the top of the tank bag, not my best move.
We leave a sunny London early Monday morning for Dover to pick up the Dover – Calais 8 o’clock ferry, we are in luck get there and hope to get on the ferry before.
Never been a problem before, however for the first time ever (honest) I have messed up the 24 hour clock and I am 12 hours too early, cheaper to buy a new ticket than to mess around changing the ticket.
My daughter was laughing so much and with me joining in, the staff from the other side of the booth even came round to see what was happening, the guy then gave us a deal which was even cheaper. Worth seeing the lighter side of things than spitting the dummy, people treat you better when you are laughing.
The weather forecast for the next week is looking better than the rest of the summer, no rain, great.
Get on the early ferry by the skin of our teeth, there doesn’t seem to be any other bikes that I can see, which even for September seemed strange.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401694435/" title="Breakfast2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8401694435_d1b7c46834.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Breakfast2"></a>
At breakfast there seems to be quite a few bikers knocking around, as we were last on we are first off and then we spot all the bikes jammed in at the front unable to get moving.
We are quickly off the ferry and on our way to Lille, my daughter did some work experience in a Chocolate shop there, so we plan to stop off and say Hi.
Busy City centre Lille but we get in to the Main square (without SAT NAV), head over to the Choc shop only to find it closed, so find a bar and grab an early Beer and Coffee in the SUN and watch the world go by.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797918/" title="Atomium1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8402797918_92bfc35675.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Atomium1"></a>
Next stop is the Atomium in Bruxelles, a mate of mine has a copy of it on his workshop roof that he made, and always says it’s worth a visit, sure is, its massive compared to his, my daughter thought I was joking when I said we were going there but she could not believe how great it was. We again grab a coffee and watch the world go by.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401707819/" title="Atomium2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8401707819_986c8565e8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Atomium2"></a>
Belgium has busy roads, guess it’s because it is such a small place and everyone is travelling though it to somewhere else, but no real problem on the bike.
We leave on our the way to our first nights stop in Cologne Germany, I used Trivago for the first time to find some cheap Hotels / Hostels on the way, a twin room Romanian styled Hotel 6Km outside Cologne for under £20, how could I go wrong.
On the way I use the Sat Nav for the first time as I have not been to Cologne before, that’s my second mistake of the trip, we end up at the Cathedral in the centre of Cologne and not 6Km away, daughter still laughing so not a terrible mistake, I need to remember if you program the Sat Nav with all the points on the way, make you sure you choose the one you want to go to next, not the one for the next day.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797242/" title="Cologne Hotel 2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8402797242_1e0e432fa0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne Hotel 2"></a>
We get to the Hotel, which is bit weird with stuffed animals all over, lots of stuff from Transilvania, need to make sure the door is locked tonight. But it’s only a short walk from the Rhine, people are friendly and it’s comfortable.
Its quite late so have a meal in the Hotel, not sure what we were offered so let them decide, a dish from the homeland, it was like a plate of sandwich spread with bread on the side, Romanian beer helped it feel like a meal.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797038/" title="Cologne Hotel 1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8402797038_735d0a6d4f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne Hotel 1"></a>
We go for a walk after, its like a summer evening, and even though it was a tourist area almost everything was closed or closing, even down by the Rhine the bars looked good but no one was around.
Back to the Hotel and a great night’s sleep with not a bat in sight, in the morning we decide to go and find a normal type breakfast at the bars by the Rhine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797176/" title="Rhine Breakfast by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8402797176_5611b87a41.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Rhine Breakfast"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8402797620/" title="Rhine by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8402797620_627b867a7d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Rhine"></a>
Great weather, misty on the Rhine and the barges are starting to move though the mist, and then a friendly bar for breakfast, excellent choice.
From there to the Cathedral for the sightseeing, quite a building and a lot going on, more coffee and people watching in the Sun.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401706295/" title="Cologne 1 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8401706295_8d685aeef4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne 1"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401706133/" title="Cologne 2 by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8401706133_283920c287.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Cologne 2"></a>
We are then off to Bremen not the best choice of routes, the motorways are full of lorries and road works but its quite a way so it’s the quickest, we stop off quite a lot on the way at the services, they are so much better than what we have here. Apple strudel and coffee, yum.
We meet quite a few German bikers, some who chat and some that don’t. It’s amazing how some people don’t understand why it’s a good idea to do trips like this on a bike, even other bikers. We chat to a couple two up on an immaculate GPZ 1100 and they were gob smacked that we were going to Bremen, it was so far.
Not an eventful leg of the journey, but we find the Hostel right next to a massive factory for something or other in Bremen without problems, the guy there laughs when I ask if its OK to leave the bike just outside and he says it’s the safest place anywhere!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401705831/" title="Bremen by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8401705831_8b93626bcf.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Bremen"></a>
The room is cheap and equipped with bunk beds but comfortable. The others staying there must all be working in the local factories by the look of them.
We head out for something to eat but can’t find anything around, so end up by the River Weser with food from the local shop, this is where you meet the locals, who either give you a weird look or wish you Bon Appétit while out running.
On the way back to the Hostel we hear a loud open air disco and lots of people on roller skates heading towards it. As we appoarch they all head off behind the van with the ghetto blaster on for a late night roller disco around Bremen, quite a sight.
We leave for Copenhagen in the morning, again mindless motorways and good coffee, you always think it is the Brits who shout at foreigners when they don’t understand, but the Germans are quite good at it as well, yes I would have custard with my apple strudel thanks.
At one point I was expecting to get a real soaking, the clouds in the sky ahead where black as night, but as we got closer you could see it was all coming out of a chimney and stretched for miles, and then another and another. They say we should clean up our act but they don’t seem to care. Impossible to believe really, but we stayed dry.
At a fill up at the services I notice a hole in the rear tyre, but its only just leaking with no real loss of pressure, but I check it at the next few services thinking I will get it sorted in Copenhagen rather than plug it in the middle of no where.
We are heading for the Puttgarden – Rodby ferry which you pickup from an island with just one main bridge as access, we get to within about 8 miles of the bridge and there is one hell of a tailback.
This is no problem for me as I am from London, but there is a Harley from Norway in front of me and if you know Scandinavians you will know they used to be taught not to pass unless they are about 2 meters away from the other vehicle.
Anyway I follow him for a couple of miles until he ducks between two cars to go for the inside, then I am off in Londoner style inches form all the traffic, only to get to the bridge to see 3 cops all pointing at me, shouting and jumping up and down, opps, but they wave me past the accident without stopping me, with the Harley right behind!
At the ferry port I start talking the Harley owner, he is from Tromso and left in April in the snow and was just going back, I wondered if he would get back before the snow.
He had just some waterproofs and a small pack, travelling light, he had enjoyed the British summer up in Scotland, wetter than Norway he said, been around Europe a bit staying with “friends”.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69129676@N07/8401981415/" title="Harley & Canoe by letsjamnow, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8401981415_d68a2ccf84.jpg" width="500" height="299" alt="Harley & Canoe"></a>
He was surprised that I new Tromso and a had stayed in the cabins by the bridge some years ago on the way back from North Cape, its great to talk to others who are travelling, but then there was the guy on the English Goldwing who only just forced himself to return a hello.
But we all fell about laughing at the guy who had to come with the motorbikes pulling his canoe with wheels onto the ferry as they would not let him row across, he was laughing as well poor bloke.
Nice report
